[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16] [Senate] [Pages 22969-22970] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]THE MILLENNIUM DIGITAL COMMERCE ACT Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today the Senate was poised to take action on Senator Abraham's Millennium Digital Commerce Act. This important measure is aimed at promoting the growth of the ``E-conomy''. Senator Abraham has worked tirelessly over the last several months to get this bill through the Senate. Unfortunately after gaining agreement to bring this bill to the floor today, our Democratic colleagues decided to muck up this legislation. They insisted on attaching non-germane amendments to this crucial ``e- commerce'' legislation. Measures that have absolutely nothing to do with Senator Abraham's high-technology initiative. Once again, the ``do nothing Democrats'' are at work stopping at every point significant legislative momentum. The Senate could easily pass Senator Abraham's bill. It is simple and straight-forward. It promotes jobs, stimulates the economy, and creates savings and opportunities for America's consumers. Instead, in an effort to create yet another log-jam, the Minority Leader is looking for a vehicle to attach every Democratic proposal under the sun. The other side of the aisle, which claims to promote electronic commerce, is doing everything it can to quash Senator Abraham's electronic signatures bill--as well as other important legislation. It is a continuing pattern and practice of the Democrats to deny the American people any legislative progress. The Democrats claim that they want this bill and that they are pro-technology, yet they are doing everything they can to kill this bill. Mr. President, S. 761 establishes the legal certainty of electronic signatures for interstate commercial transactions. It is an interim solution needed until states adopt the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA). UETA was recently adopted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Over the next several years, it will undergo state-by-state consideration--similar to the process followed in implementing the Uniform Commercial Code. The states, high technology and other commercial sectors support Senator Abraham's common sense legislation because it validates the use of electronic authentication technology. A tool that will help [[Page 22970]] the electronic marketplace flourish in the 21st Century. The Administration, not once but twice, formally noted its support for the electronic signatures measure reported out of the Senate Commerce Committee. Both the Commerce Department's letter of support and the Executive Office of the President's Statement of Administration Position were previously entered into the Record. Given the overwhelming support for S. 761, I am surprised and bewildered that the Administration has been working behind the scenes to weaken this measure instead of pushing harder to get the Commerce Committee- reported bill, which the White House supported--passed. Every day, more and more businesses and consumers are conducting their important commercial transactions over the Internet. The World Wide Web, more than any other communications medium, allows users to promptly and efficiently locate vendors, evaluate goods and services, compare pricing, and complete purchases. S. 761 is good for business, good for consumers, and good for the overall economy. I am dismayed and once again disappointed that our Democratic colleagues have thrown yet another monkey wrench into the legislative process. Let's stop playing games and get the people's business done. Let's pass Senator Abraham's electronic signatures bill on its merits-- without tacking on non-germane amendments that they know will kill the bill. If my colleagues from the other side of the aisle are really for the New Economy, they will stop these shenanigans and let us pass a clean Millennium Digital Commerce Act. ____________________